In Zhengzhou, Henan Province, two cremators working at a funeral home expressed their initial fear when they first entered the profession. Wang Lichuang, a cremator with 12 years of experience, mentioned that he can cremate over 60 bodies in a day. The smell after burning the bodies is unbearable, and even now he is not accustomed to it. They both feel that their profession is not understood by their families and people around them.
According to Dahe Newspaper’s report on the 4th, Wang Lichuang started working at the funeral home repairing cremators, and two years later, he officially became a cremator. He shared that at the beginning, he was particularly scared, and in his first week, his mentor pushed him to work despite his fear.
Their job involves transferring bodies, verifying identities, and after the families bid farewell to the deceased, Wang Lichuang respectfully escorts the bodies to the cremator, ignites the fire, monitors the cremation process in real-time, and controls factors like wind force, firepower, and furnace pressure. Approximately one hour later, the body turns into ashes.
When Wang Tonghui first encountered this industry, he recounted how the bodies are transported through a long conveyor belt to the crematorium, and the movement of blankets and clothes due to the wind made him feel as if the bodies were moving, which was unsettling.
Wang Tonghui admitted, “I was quite scared the first time I took on this job.” Having worked in this field for a little over two months now, he has started getting used to it.
Wang Lichuang elaborated, “I cremate about 60 bodies a day. The work starts in the morning at a fixed time, but the end time is not fixed, sometimes extending until around 7 pm. After finishing cremating, I need to wrap up the day’s work and prepare for the next day, including cleaning the cremation platform, arranging tools, and disposing of waste, ensuring that it doesn’t affect the next day’s operations.”
During cremation, the sound of burning fat emits a crackling noise. Most bodies that go into the cremator have been refrigerated, and when heated, they shrink, causing slight deformities, which is considered normal.
It is mentioned that after the cremation of an adult body, the resulting ashes weigh about 500 grams, even less if thoroughly pulverized. Factors such as the size, weight, storage conditions, and duration of the body can affect the amount of ashes produced. The longer the body is stored, the lower the ash content, resulting in more loss.
Moreover, the smell after high-temperature cremation is unpleasant, resembling burnt meat mixed with grease and diesel odors. Despite working in this field for 12 years, Wang Lichuang still finds it difficult to get used to this smell.
A cremator’s job involves many unseen tasks, not understood by the families. Wang Lichuang admitted, “The public lacks understanding of our work and can only guess. Despite any prejudices, we must respect the deceased.”
“When someone asks about my occupation, I simply say I work at the Civil Affairs Bureau, and that’s where I stop talking,” Wang Lichuang explained.
“People usually cannot accept those working in the funeral industry,” he continued. “After over ten years in this field, I have minimal contact with friends. I rarely disclose my profession to others because I don’t want my family to face judgment because of it.”
Wang Tonghui confessed that he has not told his parents about his involvement in this industry, fearing they may not accept it.
Recently, when Wang Tonghui wanted to install a water purifier at home, the salesperson asked him to fill out a questionnaire. When asked about his workplace, Wang Tonghui simply wrote “Civil Affairs Bureau.” However, upon mentioning the funeral industry, the reaction was different. Despite the assurance that it wouldn’t be an issue, Wang Tonghui’s note was torn up after he left.
“There are many stigmas attached to our profession in society. When there are joyous events in the family or among friends, people usually send their best wishes over the phone and money but don’t show up in person,” Wang Tonghui sadly remarked.